Generational change in the European recorder industry is progressing well. At Mollenhauer, the continuation of the family tradition has now been secured, as already in the companies Moeck and Küng. The Mollenhauer tradition dates back to 1822 when Johann Andreas Mollenhauer (1798–1871) first began to develop recorders alongside flutes, clarinets, bassoons, oboes, as well as csakans and flageolets.

The second generation, under Thomas Mollenhauer (1840–1914), also produced flutes, bassoons, oboes, and clarinets while Conrad Mollenhauer (1876–1943), representing the third generation, specialised in making flutes and piccolos. In the fourth generation, Thomas Mollenhauer (1908–1953) and his wife Rosel who, after her husband’s early death, managed the company until 1961 and expanded the brand name Mollenhauer with new instruments. In addition to flutes, recorder production grew considerably in these years.

Bernhard Mollenhauer became head of the family business in the fifth generation, concentrating the production specifically on recorders while also introducing new areas of activity. To this day, weekend courses, a hands-on museum and the ’Sound World’ attract many visitors to the Mollenhauer workshop in Fulda; the company’s German language journal ’Windkanal’ informs readers about recorder matters all over the world.

In September 2017 Berthold Mollenhauer, the sixth generation of the family, joined the company as a managing director. Berthold, Bernhard Mollenhauer’s son-in-law and a mechanical engineer by training, previously managed the development department of the medical technology firm Moeller Medical in Fulda. He has already established useful contacts with the recorder scene at the Greenwich Early Music Festival in London, among other venues. He enjoys helping to shape the development of recorder making, and appreciates the family atmosphere of this industry. Stefan Kömpel will continue in his role as managing director. As a businessman with many years’ experience in recorder sales, Stefan is looking forward to the support and technical expertise of Berthold Mollenhauer. The management team is completed by Nik Tarasov, who, as an experienced recorder player, is a true expert on the instrument.

Bernhard Mollenhauer continues to make special recorders in his own small workshop; to view these visit www.blockfloeten-creationen.de. His view on handing over to the next generation is extremely positive: ’I am very pleased to see Berthold Mollenhauer at the helm of our family business and wish him all the best for the future.’